Lining element for the interior of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

In a lining element ( 1 ) for the interior of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a base part ( 2 ) is provided, on its surface side facing the interior ( 4 ) of the vehicle and suitable for the output of light, with a translucent covering layer ( 3 ). According to the invention, to improve the haptic properties, the covering layer ( 3 ) is designed to be elastically compressible and preferably translucent. The base part ( 2 ) can be designed, for example, as a plate-like optical conductor ( 10 ) which is operationally associated with a separate light generator ( 7 ), for example a light-emitting diode ( 8 ). Alternatively, it is also possible to form the base part ( 2 ) directly as a light generator ( 7 ), for example by applying an electroluminescent film ( 18 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of application PCT/EP03/09019,filed Aug. 14, 2003, and claims priority to DE 102 40 270.1 filed Aug.31, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD

The invention relates to an element for the interior of a vehicle, inparticular a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Conventional lining elements can be comprised of a lining part of thegeneric type for use in the interior of a motor vehicle. One exemplaryembodiment comprises a transparent, light-conducting base part which, onthe side of the interior of the vehicle, is equipped with a coveringlayer of natural stone. The natural stone is cut sufficiently thinly topermit the passage of light in order to achieve an optical effect and isjoined to the base part by means of an adhesive. As an option, thecovering layer can also be provided with a tacky clear varnish which, inthe event of a fracture of the natural stone caused by an accident,prevents splinters flying about.

This rather exotic construction can naturally more likely be used insmall, in particular narrow, components, for example decorative strips.As a result of the materials used on the side of the interior, liningparts of this kind have a hard surface with a correspondingly unpleasantfeel.

Another exemplary embodiment comprises a lining element which has anelastomeric, possibly also transparent, external material which is letinto a receptacle in the base part with a form fit. In order to achieveoptical effects, an illumination device can be embedded in the externalmaterial.

In this construction, although a pleasing feel can be produced, theoptical impression is unsatisfactory because of the locally differentintensity of light. Thus, there is a need for a lining element for theinterior of a vehicle that is designed such that it can both maintain apleasing feel and provides a satisfactory optical impression.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments provide an optically and haptically pleasing liningpart, which can also be formed with a large area, having alight-emitting surface.

Some embodiments are directed to a lining element for the interior of avehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having a base part, and asurface side facing the interior of the vehicle, and provided with atranslucent covering layer suitable for emitting light.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a lining element for theinterior of a vehicle is comprised of a covering layer, a base part, anda surface side facing the interior of the vehicle and suitable foremitting light. The covering layer can be designed to be elasticallycompressible. Further, the covering layer can be designed to betranslucent, and its optical transmissivity in the visible spectralrange (generally 380 m to 780 nm., usually measured at 550 nm) may be 1to 25%. In some embodiments, the optical transmissivity may be 5 to 10%.This translucency may be firstly sufficient in order still to emit anoticeable amount of light from the light generator into the interior ofthe vehicle and, secondly, may still lead to an extraordinarily uniformemission of light being achieved which can be pleasantly glare-free evenin darkness.

The base part can be is designed as a plate-like optical conductor whichoperates in conjunction with an illumination device, for example anincandescent lamp or a light-emitting diode (LED). The optical conductorcan be comprised of a transparent plastic. For instance, the opticalconductor can be comprised of transparent plastics, including, but notlimited to, PMMA or PC. The structure of the optical conductor can besuch that light can be output on the surface side of the opticalconductor, which faces the interior. Structures of this type can beproduced, for example, by laser removal or sandblasting on the surfaceof the optical conductor, but can also be produced by structuring themold for injection molding or in the printing process. Depending on theselected formation, the structure can be arranged on one of the two oreven both the surface sides or, if appropriate, even within the opticalconductor.

In some embodiments, the plate-like base part can be formed directly asa light generator and, for example, comprise an electroluminescent film(EL film). EL films are generally light-emitting films which can be cutand deformed three-dimensionally and which, as Lambert radiators, asthey are known, emit virtually monochromatic light which is uniform inany viewing direction and extends from blue to yellow (480 nm to 580 nm)and also mixed colors thereof, for example white. However, other flatlight emitters, for example OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) orpolyLEDs, can also be used.

The translucent, elastically compressible covering layer can becomprised of an elastomer such as EPDM, silicone or polyurethane which,over its entire thickness or partially, has a foam structure thatreduces its hardness. The elastomer can have a hardness of 20 to 70Shore A at room temperature. This may impart to the lining elementoverall a pleasing feel under the atmospheric conditions prevailing inthe interior of the vehicle. According to some of these embodiments, theelastomer may have a hardness of about 40 Shore A.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the covering layer cancomprises a layer facing the interior of the vehicle, the layercomprised of a film and made of a gel-like substance which, at roomtemperature, can have a dynamic viscosity of 0.01 to 10 Pa·s, and, underlocal pressure being applied to the surface side of the lining element,escapes to the side in a viscid manner into the remaining gel-filled gapunderneath the film.

The gel-like substance can be arranged between two films and, in thisform, can be adhesively bonded to the flat base part. The film on theside of the interior can be composed such that it has a relatively lowthickness, yet sufficient strength to perform its function. By way ofexample and not by limitation, polyurethane films with a thickness of0.1 to 1.5 mm may be suitable. Additionally, polyurethane films with athickness of 0.5 to 1.0 mm may be suitable.

The thickness of the covering layer, overall can be 1.0 to 5.0 mm. Thismay result in the edges being provided with visible and palpable curveswhich may optimize the overall impression of the lining element. Thethickness according to some of these embodiments may be about 2.0 mm toabout 3.0 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The figures illustrate exemplary and schematically different embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a lining element according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a further lining elementaccording to an embodiment of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The lining element 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 can comprises a base part 2having a thickness D₁ and a covering layer 3 having a thickness D₂. Thebase part 2 can be formed as an injection molding made from atransparent plastic having a structured surface 5 facing the interior 4of the vehicle. Via an integrally molded lateral optical channel 6(alternatively also by a glass fiber optical conductor), the lightgenerated in a separate light generator 7 in the form of alight-emitting diode 8 (illustrated schematically by the arrows A) canbe fed by a deflection zone 9 provided with mirrored surfaces and formedin the manner of a staircase into the level, flat optical conductor 10of the base part 2, where it is distributed over the surface of thelining element 1.

Via the structured surface 5, the light can enters the covering layer 3,which can consists of a translucent elastomer and be attached to thebase part 2. The covering layer can be attached to the base part by anynumber of suitable means including, but not limited to, being adhesivelybonded by a transparent adhesive 11. The covering layer 3 can have twoouter layers 12, 13 of compact material and a foamed core layer 14 offoamed material, which can extend parallel to the structured surface 5of the base part 2. The foamed core layer 14 can increase thecompressibility of the covering layer 3 and can makes the passage oflight more uniform by means of scattering. Accordingly, the liningelement 1 can have a uniform emergence of light and a pleasing feel,since the covering layer 3 can be deformed elastically (arrow B). Thepart of the covering layer 3 that projects beyond the edging 16 of thelining element 1 can have rounded edges which may reinforce the positiveimpression once more if they are touched.

In the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2, the base part 2can comprises a flat carrier 17, which can be designed as desired withregard to its optical properties and which, on its surface side facingthe interior 4 of the vehicle, can be equipped with a light generator 7.The light generator can be comprised of any suitable film. By way ofexample and not limitation, the light generator can be comprised of anelectroluminescent film (EL Film) 18. The EL Film can generates lightwhich enters the covering layer 3 uniformly in the direction of thearrows A.

The translucent covering layer 3 can comprise an upper and a lowertranslucent, flexible plastic film 19, 20, which can be joined tightlyto each other at the edges. The interspace between the plastic films 19,20 can be filled with a turbid, gel-like substance 21, which can escapeslaterally (arrow C) in a viscid manner under pressure (arrow B) on thesurface of the covering layer 3 that faces the interior.

Irrespective of the embodiment selected, the covering layer 3 can becomprised of a translucent surface having an optical transmissivity inthe visible spectral range of 1 to 25%, in particular 5 to 10%. Thistranslucency can firstly sufficient in order still to emit a noticeableamount of light from the light generator 7 into the interior 4 of thevehicle and, secondly, can still leads to an extraordinarily uniformemission of light being achieved which is can be pleasantly glare-freeeven in darkness. In some embodiments, the covering layer 3 can havetranslucent textile covering. In another alternative embodiment, thecovering layer can be covered with a thin opaque layer which may beapplied.

The lining element according to an embodiment of the invention can bedesigned in any desired shape and size. By way of example and notlimitation, the lining element can be designed to be any one of; athree-dimensionally shaped roof linings, a door cladding, a pillarcladding, a sun visor or a rear cladding of the backrest of a vehicleseat. Illumination of the lining element can provide a pleasant ambiencecan be created in the entire interior of a vehicle, as an orientationlight or in conjunction with operating elements.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A lining element for the interior of a vehicle, inparticular a motor vehicle, a base part; a surface side facing theinterior of the vehicle and suitable for emitting light; and atranslucent covering layer wherein the covering layer is designed to beelastically compressible.
 17. The lining element as claimed in claim 16,wherein the base part is a light generator.
 18. The lining element asclaimed in claim 17, wherein an elastomer has an at least partiallyfoamed structure.
 19. The lining element as claimed in claim 18, whereinthe gel-like substance is arranged between two plastic films.
 20. Thelining element as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base part comprisesat least electroluminescent film organic light-emitting diode and polylight-emitting diode.
 21. The lining element as claimed in claim 20,wherein the translucent covering layer comprised of an elastomer that isat least one of EPDM, silicone and polyurethane.
 22. The lining elementas claimed in claim 21, wherein the elastomer has a hardness of 20 to 70Shore A.
 23. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the basepart is designed as a plate-like optical conductor, which isoperationally associated with a light generator.
 24. The lining elementas claimed in claim 23, wherein the optical conductor is comprised of atleast one of PMMA and PC, and having a structure allowing an output oflight on the surface side of the optical conductor facing the interior.25. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the coveringlayer comprises a layer of a gel-like substance covered toward theinterior of the vehicle by a plastic film.
 26. The lining element asclaimed in claim 25, wherein the plastic film on the side of theinterior has a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm.
 27. The lining element asclaimed in claim 26, wherein the covering element has a thicknessoverall of 1.0 to 5.0 mm.
 28. The lining element as claimed in claim 25wherein the gel-like substance has a dynamic viscosity of 0.01 to 10Pa·s.
 29. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein thecovering layer is designed to be translucent.
 30. The lining element asclaimed in claim 29, wherein the translucent covering layer has anoptical transmissivity in the visible spectral range of 1 to 25%.
 31. Alining element comprising: a base part; a surface side facing theinterior of the vehicle and suitable for emitting light; and a coveringlayer.
 32. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein thecovering layer is elastically compressible.
 33. The lining element asclaimed in claim 31, wherein the covering layer translucent.
 34. Thelining element as claimed in claim 33, wherein the translucent coveringlayer has an optical transmissivity in the visible spectral range of 5to 10%.
 35. The lining element as claimed in claim 33, wherein thetranslucent covering layer comprises an elastomer comprised of an atleast partially formed structure.
 36. The lining element as claimed inclaim 35, wherein the elastomer comprises at least one of EPDM, siliconeand polyurethane.
 37. The lining element as claimed in claim 35, whereinthe elastomer has a hardness of approximately 40 Shore A.
 38. The liningelement as claimed in claim 31, wherein the covering layer comprises alayer of a gel-like substance covered toward the interior of the vehicleby means of a film.
 39. The lining element as claimed in claim 38,wherein the film is comprised of plastic.
 40. The lining element asclaimed in claim 38, wherein the gel-like substance has a dynamicviscosity of approximately 0.1 to 1 Pa·s.
 41. The lining element asclaimed in claim 38, wherein the gel-like substance is arranged betweentwo plastic films.
 42. The lining element as claimed in claim 41,wherein the plastic film has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm toapproximately 1.0 mm.
 43. The lining element as claimed in claim 31,wherein the covering layer has a thickness overall of approximately 2.0mm to approximately 3.0 mm.
 44. The lining element as claimed in claim31, wherein the base plate is a plate-like optical conductor comprisedof at least one of PMMA and PC.
 45. The lining element as claimed inclaim 31, wherein the base part is a light generator comprised of atleast one of electroluminescent film, organic light-emitting diode andpoly light-emitting diode.